Kathadin Air Service

St. John River Trip

The St. John River runs along Maine's remote northwest corner and is the longest and wildest free-flowing stretch of river in the east. Expect plenty of whitewater and solitude along the 120 miles which begins at 5th St. John Pond and continues north to Allagash Village. Some class III rapids may be encountered on the Saint John River and river canoeing experience is definitely recommended. The Saint John River trip MUST be run during the spring runoff, usually from the second week of May to the first week of June. As on the Allagash, camping is in designated campsites only on a first come first serve basis. The campsites are comparable to the campsites on the Allagash River. There are three starting points on the St. John River commonly used by Katahdin Outfitters.

Miles and Number of Days

5th St. John Pond:

l20 Miles, 7 Days

Baker Lake:

l00 Miles, 6 Days

Moody Bridge:

90 Miles, 6 Days

We are not responsible for water levels in the river. Mother nature takes care of this and is therefore out of our control.

In an effort to make your Saint John River vacation a unique, custom, and memorable experience, we have many trip options available.

Please take time to be as accurate as possible. Basically, what we need to know is how many people in your party, the number of canoes you will need, and whether you will be using a Katahdin Outfitters vehicle for your transportation or will we be shuttling your personal vehicle.

We will also need to know the date and exact time that you will be arriving at the Katahdin Outfitters base: again, try to be as accurate as possible.

If you are not sure or have questions, let us know what your interests are and how much time you have, and I am sure we will be able to tailor a unique and pleasurable trip for you.

St. John camping fees are charged as North Maine Woods fees, not Waterway fees. Camping is $6.00 per person per night and road use fees are $8.00 per person.

Check here to view up to date water levels and flows on the Allagash Waterway.

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About Us

For over 45 years, Katahdin Outfitters has served parties traveling to the "North Maine Woods" to canoe and kayak some of the most noteworthy rivers in Maine and the northeast. Our base which is located in Millinocket Maine, is directly on the major access route to the area.